Pencil.



A. W. HARRISON.

PENCIL.

APPLICATION FILED 14:11.11, 1911.

1,021,148. Patente'd Mar.26, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOGIAPH cm. WASHINGTON, D. C.

(:1: J a O I 6 f f) UNITED STATES PgaENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR W. HARRISON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 U'BERT K. PETTINGILL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PENCIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 11, 1911.

Serial No. 608,120.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR \V. HAnuison, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pencils, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pencils and refers particularly to that type wherein a comparatively short piece of lead may be adjusted and clamped, the lead only being subjected to a sharpening operation.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character of exceedingly cheap construction, and combining with the clamping action the utility of an eraser and also a soft engaging member or surface for the finger or fingers of the user.

To these ends, the invention consists in the pencil substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pencil constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the lead being omitted. Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the elastic clamp detached from the pencil.

Similar reference characters indicate the same or similar parts in all the views.

The body of the pencil may be made of a single piece of wood a, which may be provided at one end with means for holding an ordinary writing pen I). The structure at that end of the rod or piece of wood, including the pen-holding member or grip, may be that shown in Letters Patent No. 590,183 to E. D. Chadwick. The other end of the rod or member a, which embodies the present invention, is formed with a tapering conical portion a. The holder or member a is formed with a longitudinal slit 0 extending from the tip or point about half the length of the rod or body, but the invention of course is not restricted to the particular proportions illustrated. A longitudinal socket (Z is bored in the tapered end portion and is preferably shorter than the slit 0. The slit and the socket 03 cause the tapered end portion of the rod or body a to form two jaws adapted to hold a pencil lead 6.

To clamp the jaws upon the lead, I provide a clasp consisting of a rubber ring f which is normally of a diameter very much smaller than the portion of the body where it is located when performing itsclamping function, as illustrated by comparing Fig. 4 with the other figures, said Fig. 4 indicating the normal size of the rubber clasp when removed from the body a. Said rubber clasp is formed of a ring the radial section of which is rectangular and not circular, although in some instances it might be made circular. A circular radial section however would provide for too free rolling of the clasp along the rod or body a. By forming the ring so that the radial section isrectangular, there is presented a cylindrical inner wall which will snugly fit the body and reduce tendency to accidental shifting of the clasp lengthwise of the body. This shape moreover enables the clamps to be conveniently and economically formed by simply transversely cutting a rubber tube having a very small central aperture.

lVhen the clamp isfirst placed in position, the small central aperture is slid over the extreme tip of the body, and the lead 6 also if the latter is in place, and then rolled backwardly over the tapered portion as far as may be desired. Owing to the shape of the rubber clasp described, this rolling action is not so free that it could be effected accidentally. When the rubber clasp is shifted back nearly to or even beyond the bottom of the socket (Z, the lead can be easily shifted longitudinally of the socket, and then the clasp will be rolled back to a point along the jaws where said jaws will be caused to grip the lead with sufficient firmness to prevent the latter from shifting longitudinally in use.

Preferably the body a is formed with an annular groove g to define the proper location for the rubber clasp, and to aid in holding it in such proper position. The rubber clasp can be used as an eraser and when worn so as to interfere with its utility as a clasp, it can be replaced by another ring furnished with the pencil when bought. Said clasp also serves the purpose of an abutment for the fingers of the user, and owing to the characteristics of the rubber, does not chafe the fingers as a metal clasp would do.

I claim A pencil holder comprising a solid body having one end provided with a longitudinal slit portion to receive a lead, the walls of Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

. tion, said clasp having its radial cross secsaid slit portion being separated by a uni- In testimony whereof I have afiiXed my form space throughout their length, and a signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

rubber clasp mounted upon the slitted por- ARTHUR W. HARRISON tion angular, whereby it is necessary to Witnesses: stretch said clasp in order to roll it back C. F. BROWN, and forth to clamp and unclamp the lead. P. W. PEZZETTI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

